Toy furniture carrier

ABSTRACT

A device for carrying an article of toy furniture includes a base portion and a sling portion that is selectively and releasably interconnectable with the base portion. The base portion and the sling portion, when interconnnected, provide a simple and convenient carrier for an article of toy furniture resting on the base portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Serial No. 60/302,102filed Jun. 30, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of toys,and, more particularly, a device for carrying toy furniture items.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] There has become known in the venue of retail toy sales varioustypes of furniture, such as stuffed arm chairs, sofas, and/or futons,which are appropriately sized for use as furniture for toys, such asstuffed animals, “teddy bears”, and the like. These items, while beinglight enough for an adult to carry with one hand, are often possessed ofa non-uniform shape and are of sufficient size as to be awkward, if notimpossible, to fit into a conventional shopping bag. Thus, there is aneed for a temporary carrying device or carrier specifically forcarrying such toy furniture items from a retail store to a vehicle orpoint of use.

[0004] It is also generally considered advantageous if the productcarriers can be recycled and/or reused for other purposes before beingdiscarded or recycled. In this instance, because the product which ispurchased and carried from the retail store in the subject device is atoy product, it is desirable if the carrying device is also a source ofplay, especially for a child who receives the product carried home inthe new device.

[0005] A common problem for retailers in providing external packagingfor carry-out purposes is that the packages require a significant amountof space for shipping, storage and in store-availability. Of course, ifsuch packaging is also heavy, increased fees will be incurred inshipping of the carriers. Further, it is necessary that very little timebe required to ready the package for receipt and carrying of the goodsplaced therein, so as to not interfere with store operations and requirecustomers to wait for an extended period of time before leaving thestore with their new purchases.

[0006] Accordingly, it is among the several objects of the presentinvention to provide a consumer product carrying device that permits thefacile carrying from a retail store of an article of toy furniture,while simultaneously providing a significant amount of visibility of thearticle being carried in the new device. It is further among the objectsof the present invention, having the features mentioned, that the newcarrying device be quick to assemble by one person and be adapted forreuse, and/or alternative use as a play area, and further that thedevice be sufficiently light weight to readily permit carrying by anindividual when a toy furniture product is in the carrier. It is alsodesirable that the new carrying device be formed a material which can berecycled and that the device provide a suitable substrate for additionof written information, such as product and source information, and/orgraphic designs, such as advertising graphics.

[0007] Accordingly, in keeping with the above objects and advantages,the present invention is, briefly, a device for carrying an article oftoy furniture. The device includes a base portion and a sling portionwhich is selectively and releasably interconnectable with the baseportion. The base portion and the sling portion when interconnnectedprovide a simple and convenient carrier for an article of toy furnitureresting on the base portion.

[0008] The invention is also, briefly, a device that provides the dualfunction of a carrier device for carrying toys and a play set. Thedevice includes a first piece and a second piece, the first piece beinga base for the carrier device and a floor area for the play set and thesecond piece being a sling for the carrier and a background for theplayset.

[0009] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will bein part apparent and in part pointed out hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a toy furniture carrier in accordancewith the invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a left end elevational view thereof.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a right end elevational view thereof.

[0014]FIG. 5 front elevational view thereof.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a back elevational view thereof.

[0016]FIG. 7 is an upper right perspective view thereof, enlarged forclarity.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the base portion of the new toyfurniture carrier, the bottom plan view being identical prior toaddition of any graphics or decorative effects.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the base portion shown inFIG. 8, with the end portions slightly raised.

[0019]FIG. 10 is a plan view of the sling portion of the new toyfurniture carrier, prior to the addition of any graphics or decorativeeffects, the opposite side being identical.

[0020]FIG. 11 is a reduced, exploded view of the toy furniture carrierof FIG. 1, shown without the graphics and end tabs, for clarity andsimplicity of the drawings, and set up as for use as a play area.

[0021] Throughout the figures like parts are indicated by like elementnumbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] With reference to the figures, and initially, FIGS. 1-7,reference numeral 10 generally designates a toy furniture carrier havinga base portion 12 and a sling portion 18, which preferably can beseparated from one another and optionally used, either separably ortogether for purposes of play. It is to be understood that while carrier10 could be modified to be constructed of all one piece, such is notpreferred, in view of the various features and advantages discussedherein regarding storage and play functions.

[0023] As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10, base portions 12, 18 are eachformed from flat pieces of semi-rigid, sheet-like material, which ispreferably corrugated cardboard. Optionally, other materials, such asplastic or paper board, for example, can be used to form the portions ofcarrier 10. The material selected to form portions 12, 18 must besufficiently rigid to support the weight of a piece of toy furniture,such as indicated in phantom at 24 in FIG. 6, and also sufficientlyflexible to be capable of repeated bending at the indicated places(discussed hereafter) for assembly and disassembly of carrier 10.

[0024] Each portion 12, 18 has two sides, 14, 16 and 20, 22,respectively, which are manufactured substantially flat for economy andfor convenience of shipping and storage, but which can be bent atpredetermined places in order to permit interconnection of portion 12with portion 18, as will be described further hereafter, for purposes offorming a sling-type package for carrying a piece of toy furniture. Eachside surface 14, 16, 20, 22 provides area for graphic designs and/oradvertising. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-7,whimsical decorations are applied to the flat surfaces of portions 12,18. The graphical elements provide an eye-catching, attractive “package”for carrying a recently purchased piece of toy furniture from the store,and at the same time provides a method for advertising the store wherethe toy furniture item was purchased. This is particularly useful as amarketing mechanism when such stores are located within shopping malls,so that other shoppers in the mall are indirectly urged to frequent thesame toy store.

[0025] The decorative graphic patterns on the flat surfaces of portions12, 18 provide a further function, which is to create the impression ofa play area, in the case of the illustrations shown herein, a playhouse, when portions 12, 18 are unconnected from one anther anddisposed, for example, in the relative positions illustrated in FIG. 11(graphics omitted for simplicity). For example, the graphicillustrations shown in FIGS. 1-7 provide on side 14 of portion 12 a“hardwood” floor with a rug, and on side 16 an alternative “linoleum”floor, for use in a pretend bathroom. The alternate sides of slingportion 18 provide other whimsical home elements, such as a roof,bathtub, computer, lamp, bedroom furniture, and so on. Of course thegraphic features can vary infinitely, or be omitted altogether withoutaffecting the functional aspects of the carrying device.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 8, base portion 12 is preferably generallyrectangular, although other perimeter shapes are conceived which willsuffice, an oval for example. Two slots 26 are formed longitudinallythrough the depth of portion 12, one substantially adjacent and parallelto each long side edge of base portion 12. Slots 26 are sufficientlywide and long to receive the depth and widest portion of the width ofsling portion 18 therethrough, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, for example.However, slots 26 are not so large in any dimension, as to permitsignificant “play” between portions 12 and 18. Such construction of baseportion 12 permits quick, facile, secure interconnection of the twoportions of carrier 10 to provide a resting place for toy furniture 24within device 10. Thus, portions 12 and 18 can be stored separately inneat stacks in a retail facility or warehouse, and assembled together toform carrier 10 when needed.

[0027]FIG. 8 also clearly illustrates two substantially parallel linesof weakness 30, disposed inwardly of the two opposed short ends of base12 and substantially perpendicular to slots 26. Lines of weakness 30provide bending lines, to permit base 12 to be adapted for bettercarrying of toy furniture. When a larger piece of toy furniture iscarried in device 10, lines of weakness 30 may not be used. Rather, inthat case, the extensions 32, which extend as selectively movable panelslaterally beyond lines 30 may remain flat. Alternatively, if base 12 isbent somewhat along lines 30, extension panels 32 may be angledupwardly, as shown, e.g., in FIGS. 5 and 9, in order to provide somedegree of physical blockage, thereby enhancing the prevention ofslipping of the toy furniture piece off the upwardly facing surface ofbase 12. For completeness, it is to be understood, that although device10 is shown in the figures for consistency, with surface 14 facingupwardly, base 12 is preferably reversible so that either side can beused for carrying, or for play. Similarly, sling portion 18 can bereversed and either side used facing outwardly for either play orcarrying purposes. This point is to be borne in mind as the followingdescription of sling portion 18 is reviewed, as such describes the slingportion from one side, for simplicity and clarity, but of course, theentire portion 18 can be flipped over and the procedure for assemblyapplied to the opposite side of the panel.

[0028]FIG. 10 illustrates the preferred form of sling portion 18 just asit is manufactured. The sling portion is elongated and flat and providedwith multiple transverse lines of weakness to enhance bendability ofportion 18 at preselected places along the length of the portion. Whenbent at the places indicated, with the opposed ends of portion 18 beingdirected generally toward one another, on the same side 20 or 22, slingportion 18 can be interconnected with base portion 12 and with portionsof itself, so as to provide a secure, readily assembled carrying devicefor toy furniture.

[0029] More specifically, for purposes of discussion, the side of slingportion 18 facing upwardly in FIG. 10 will be referred to as side 22. Itis to be understood, that in this preferred embodiment, all lines ofweakness described are disposed transversely to the longitude of portion18, as indicated in FIG. 10. Beginning at the left side of FIG. 10,sling portion 18 has a handle, generally designated 34, which includes apreferably elongated, transversely disposed tab portion 36 separatedonly by a parallel line of weakness 38 to an area 40 which defines anopening 42. Area 40 is preferably separated by two closely spacedparallel lines of weakness 44 from another area 46. Area 46 issubstantially the same size and shape as area 40, and also defines anopening, 48, which is in alignment with opening 42, preferably along thecentral longitudinal axis of sling portion 18. Openings 42, 48 aresubstantially identical in shape and perimeter size, but are disposed,as illustrated, “head to head”, so that when area 40 is folded towardand over area 46, along lines of weakness 44, openings 42, 48 are inoverlapping relation to form a hand hold within handle 34. If desired,this opening can have an overall logo shape, can have finger cut-outs,or can simply be an oval, or some other conventional shape.

[0030] Area 46 of handle 34 is separated by a line of weakness 52 from ashort panel 54. Along the right side of panel 54, a line of weakness 56,having a centrally disposed cut-out slot 58, separates short panel 54from a long panel 60. Long panel 60 is separated by a line of weakness62 from a short panel 64, which is further separated by another line ofweakness 66 from a substantially central long panel 68. At therightwardly directed end of long panel 68 there is disposed a line ofweakness 70 which forms the left border of a short panel 72. To theright of panel 72 a line of weakness 74 separates a long panel 76 fromshort panel 72. Long panel 76 is similarly separated on the rightboundary thereof by a line of weakness 78 from a short panel 80. Shortpanel 80 is separated from another, similarly sized and shaped shortpanel 82 by two closely spaced, parallel lines of weakness 84, whichdefine a slot 86. Slot 86 is sufficiently long and wide to receivetherethrough the main portions of areas 40, 46, when such areas arefolded, one over the other, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In thismanner the carrying handle is formed for use by passage of handle 34through slot 86 as shown and described portion 18 takes on a sling shapefor convenient transport of purchase. This is enhanced by introductionof the body of portion 18, through the two parallel slots 26 in baseportion 12, as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2, so that long panel68 is firmly and securely captured between the upper and lower surfacesof base 12.

[0031] Further with reference to FIG. 10, to the right of slot 86 thereis illustrated a short panel 82, which is separated from short panel 80by lines of weakness 84 and slot 86. To the fight of short panel 82sling portion 18 terminates in a tab 88 which extends from the finalpanel, 82, and is separated by a line of weakness 90. Tab 88 ispreferably notched as illustrated in FIG. 10, or otherwise suitablyshaped to interengage slot 58, as illustrated, for example in FIG. 7.Accordingly when structured and assembled as shown and described,carrier 10 provides and neat, attractive and handy exterior package fortransport of a piece of toy furniture. Once the purchaser's destinationhas been reached, simple disassembly of the two portions of carrier 10,and set up, for example as shown in FIG. 11 (portions deleted forsimplicity) provides an interesting and attractive play area for achild, with stuffed animals or other toys.

[0032] It is to be understood that some variations in the constructiondescribed herein are conceived that will be within the scope of theinvention, although the embodiment shown and described above ispreferred. For example, the large and short panels of sling portion 18,illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, can, if desired, be further subdividedby more transverse lines of weakness. In this manner, more options areavailable for bending sling portion to fit around toy furniture ofdifferent sizes and shapes, and more options are available for use ofthe new carrier as a play set.

[0033] In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the severalobjects of the invention are achieved and other advantages are attained.Although the foregoing includes a description of the best modecontemplated for carrying out the invention, various modifications areconceivable.

[0034] As various modifications could be made in the constructionsherein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of theinvention it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingdescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative rather than limiting.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for carrying an article of toy furniturewherein the device comprises: a base portion and a sling portion, thesling portion being selectively and releasably interconnectable with thebase portion, the base portion and the sling portion, wheninterconnnected, providing a simple and convenient carrier for anarticle of toy furniture resting on the base portion.
 2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the base portion and the sling portionis usable as part of a play area when selectively separated from theother of the base portion and the sling portion.
 3. The device of claim1, wherein the sling portion includes a handle for gripping and movingthe sling portion.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the base portion isprovided with slots for receiving and selectively retaining the slingportion therein.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of thebase portion and the sling portion is provided with graphicillustrations.
 6. A device which provides the dual function of a carrierdevice for carrying toys and a play set, comprising: a first piece and asecond piece, the first piece being a base for the carrier device and afloor area for the play set and the second piece being a sling for thecarrier device and a background for the playset.
 7. The device of claim6, wherein the first piece is elongated, substantially flat andbendable.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein the second piece is moreelongated than the first piece.
 9. The device of claim 6, wherein thefirst piece is bendable along at least one line of weakness.
 10. Thedevice of claim 6, wherein the second piece is bendable along at leastone line of weakness.
 11. The device of claim 6, wherein the secondpiece includes a handle for gripping and moving the second piece. 12.The device of claim 6, wherein the first piece is provided with slotsfor receiving and selectively retaining the second piece therein.